COALITION POINTS TO WASHINGTON STATE REPORT AS FURTHER PROOF THAT CT CHILDREN NEED PROTECTION

HARTFORD -- Over 5000 children’s products contain toxic chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and reproductive problems according to reports filed with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). An analysis of the reports by the Washington Toxics Coalition and Safer States released yesterday found that makers of kids’ products reported using a total of 41 chemicals identified by Ecology as a concern for children’s health, including toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury, and antimony, and organic compounds such as phthalates. Major manufacturers who reported using the chemicals in their products include Walmart, Gap, Gymboree, Hallmark, and H & M.

Examples of product categories reported to contain toxic chemicals include:

• Hallmark party hats containing cancer-causing arsenic.
• Graco car seats containing the toxic flame retardant TBBPA (tetrabromobisphenol A).
• Claire’s cosmetics containing cancer-causing formaldehyde.
• Walmart dolls containing hormone-disrupting bisphenol A.

The chemical reports are required under Washington State’s Children’s Safe Products Act of 2008, which requires major companies making children’s products to report the presence of toxic chemicals in their products. The reports cover certain children’s products sold in Washington State from June 1, 2012 to March 1, 2013.

"This is yet further proof that children need to be protected from toxic chemical exposure,” said Anne Hulick, RN, MSN, JD, who serves as Coordinator for the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut. "The Washington report just reinforces that store shelves are filled with products marketed for children that contain chemicals have been found to be a health risk to our youngest citizens. It’s more important than ever that Connecticut lawmakers authorize the Department of Public Health to monitor these chemicals and we start protecting our kids’ health.”

Major findings from the reports include:

• More than 5,000 products have been reported to date as containing a chemical on Washington State’s list of 66 Chemicals of High Concern to Children.
• Products reported so far include children’s clothing and footwear, personal care products, baby products, toys, car seats, and arts and craft supplies.
• Toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium, cobalt, antimony, and molybdenum were reported, with cobalt being the metal most often reported.
• Manufacturers reported using phthalates in clothing, toys, bedding, and baby products.

Other chemicals reported include solvents like ethylene glycol and methyl ethyl ketone, and a compound used in silicone known as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.

Hulick went on to say that there was a proposal before Connecticut lawmakers that would authorize the Department of Public Health to create and maintain a list of chemicals of "high concern to children” and make recommendations biennially to the legislature on ways to reduce exposure. The bill, which ran out of time in the Appropriations Committee, remains an important priority for the Coalition and many legislators in the General Assembly.

"Protecting our children from chemicals of high concern is not only a worthy goal it is also a cost saving goal,” said state Representative Diana Urban (D-Stonington), Chair of the General Assembly’s Children Committee and one of the proposal’s strongest supporter. "The chemicals already identified by Maine and Washington are chemicals that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, hormone disrupters and cause developmental delays and thus can engender future health care costs. This bill also envisions the creation of a green industry in Connecticut through our Chemicals innovations Institute at the University of Connecticut. This would be directed at finding safe alternatives to toxic chemicals that adversely impact our most vulnerable children."